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Marijuana legalization could cost millions

ANCHORAGE, (AP) — A regulatory system and enforcement involving legalized marijuana could cost Alaska $3.7 million to $7 million, according to a report by eight state agencies.

Alaskans will consider a pot legalization measure on the Aug. 19 primary ballot then would have nine months to prepare for legalization if voters say yes.

The report included information from the departments of Public Safety, Environmental Conservation and others, the Anchorage Daily News said Sunday.

The cost analysis was presented last month to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. The report acknowledged that details about legalization remain to be worked out.

“There are numerous unknowns,” it said.

The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol in Alaska said the report was not objective or well-researched.

“It was put together hastily by government bureaucrats who have a vested interest in arguing for bigger budgets and more money from Juneau,” campaign spokesman Taylor Bickford said.

The eight agencies used information from Colorado and Washington, where recreational marijuana is already legal, to estimate costs. First-year costs would be higher than later years, the report said.

“Over the longer term, it would be expected that more of the state’s total costs would become public health and education activities as the extent of the impact on public health becomes more defined,” the report said.

An extra position to inspect food facilities selling marijuana products would cost $136,900, according to the DEC. The Public Safety Department said it would request three more troopers to investigate tax-evading growers exporting Alaska marijuana outside a tax system.

“Demand for Alaska-grown marijuana is high due to its exceptional THC content,” the report said.

The department would also want $1.4 million to pay for a media campaign warning of the dangers of driving while stoned and to pay for trooper training so they could determine if a driver is high.

The Department of Revenue said it would need a tax auditor, tax technician and investigator to govern any excise tax created by the new law.

The report did not estimate tax revenues generated by legal marijuana. In Colorado, marijuana sales generated $3.5 million in taxes and fees in January.

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A few million dollars up front for the start up. I think that expense would be made up in a couple of months.Not to mention the savings from NOT having to conduct "The War on Pot". The war on drugs has just been a money pit.Somewhat like our countries defense spending.Which both have caused more harm than good. It has ruined peoples lives,and not to mention the loss of some Civil Liberties.Are not Police officers trained to detect Stoned,and Intoxicated people.While going through their Law Enforcement Academy Training? If the police officers have this training in the Academy.Then the state does not have to spend such funds on anymore detection training.Why do the people that do the estimating.Pick a random figure for the low side.Then they just double it on the high side?One would think they are talking about tax breaks for the oil industry

Luckily the propaganda won't matter and the vote will pass.
People in Alaska that will smoke after the legalization are the same people who smoke right now, nothing will noticeably change. Just don't let big tobacco buy up swaths of land!! Last thing we need is another monopolized industry in this country.

Testing labs certifying the THC content. Hash oil, hash products with 75% THC content. The Alaska State Cannabis Fair would be a global tourist event with consumable edible products that would be blue ribbon worthy. At least a week long fair, festival with vendors and music. Marijuana inspectors for purity, quality and potentcy. I can invision these fairs taking place regionally and probably several times per year.

Even the strongest of marijuana has a potency of maybe 17%. The placing of a quality control is absurd.Just the establishment of more big brother bother.I would wonder.Just who's Politician's relative would be doing the inspections?Does Alaska send fresh produce from Farmers Markets for testing of quality,and assurance of no pesticides? Since 1896 The Indian Hemp Commission was established to study POT. The results have been the same-Less harmful than Alcohol,or Tobacco.This commission was set up under the order of Queen Victoria.Since! She was a frequent indulger of smoking pot for menstrual cramps,insomnia,upset stomach.These are just a few of the over a 400 symptoms alleviated by marijuana.Do some historical research on this Commission.Then one would discover how wrong the war on pot is.More study has been done on marijuana than any opiates.Explain that one.

Suss Excuse my ignorance .the last word I got on the potency of Pot buds was 17%. I had no Idea that there were so many concentrates made from the flowers.After indulging a concentrate of a 75% THC.How does anyone even MOVE?Where is the fun in that?

Only the very ill or very experienced should dabble with dabbing. The main benefit is the vaporization method of ingestion is reported to be less harmful than smoking pot. I am interested in the metered and prescribed dose that Sativex will be bringing out in this country in the near future. This will be a threshold and landmark decision for the FDA to make a finding that any marijuana product is finally recognized as legally theraputic. When this happens all the criminal hysteria of the past should be over. Big Pharma will be in control of this product and accordingly it will cost more than street pot but the use and applications for so many illnesses will send the stock prices soaring. This could revolutionize treatment and turn the culture of pills for ills upside down. There are different strains of pot that have different desired results for varied ailments. The competition for the market share will bring a flood of marijuana sprays for many illnesses. When approved, health insurance will be paying for this medication. Damn that Obamacare, Medicare and all those terrible government programs.

There are some proof that Terminal patients/cancer patients are having some profound effects on the plus side. At the same time Colorado is in a situation that will take years to come up with some safety measures such as they have no way of testing a driver that is under the influence since folks that smoke regularly don't show signs of inpairment while first time smokers/users are dangerous behind the wheels, have reduced tollarence. Next they are trying to decide how to keep it out of minors hands such as kid proof containers etc., another nightmare. Let's face it, this is not a thought out legalization, how do you control the thc , the super weed they make now? A long time smoker out of the loop a few years would be floored with some of this powerful weed, you are asking to put another unsafe social mix in the alcohol, hard core drug, and even cell phone use which causes more accidents than drunk drivers. Think before you vote, maybe it could be a controlled medical use with some well thought out laws for controlling who is qualified to buy medical weed?

There are multiple medicinal uses for MJ,not just cancer patients.
A roadside "field sobriety test" is all that is needed,if the police see someone driving erraticly give them the test if they fail book em. But none of this your license plate light is out and OH I smell MJ,your guilty BS. Let Impairment prove "impairment".
Keeping MJ out of children's hands is the parents job,not a good reason for prohibition,if you say it is then we should also prohibit alcohol and tobacco,prescription drugs.
Higher levels of THC just means you use less,prohibition cannot control that.Believe it or not most long time users prefer the same old MJ they have used for years over the new higher octane MJ.
Haven't you heard, Prohibition does nothing but support the black market.

Dr. Christina Sanchez is a molecular biologist at Compultense University in Madrid Spain, her research led to the findings that THC does indeed kill cancer cells! She sat down with us to explain her work...